Expandable belt

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to an expandable metal belt which is made expandable by springs held within adjacent tubular links.

0 "i United btates Patent 11 1 1111 3,886,727

Bower June 3, 1975 I541 EXPANDABLE BELT 1253.903 4/1918 Kochanski 63/5 R5 2 59 9 {76] Inventor: Richard Bower. 3708 Crownridge 23: 64.55 g

D Sherman Oaks 2.429.393 10/1947 Cedar 53/5 R [221 Filed: 1973 FOREIGNPATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1211 Appl. No.2 394,322 l69 050 9/1921 UnitedKingdom 59/79 52 us. c1. 59/79 B; 59/79 B; 63/5 R Primary EXaminerC- WLanham 51 I111. (:1. Fl6g 13/24 Assistant Examiner-Gene Crosby [58]Field of Search 59/80, 82. 78, 79 B 84, Attorney, Age/14w anf r A r59/79 R; 63/5 R. 11. 6-. 2/339, 311; 244/4 B,

4 4 H [57] ABSTRACT [56] References Cited This disclosure relates to anexpandable metal belt UNITED STATES PATENTS which is made expandable bysprings held within adjacent tubular links. 906.973 l2/l908 Wcnig 59/7913 l l69.645 H1916 Hyde 59/79 B 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures EXPANDABLEBELT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various methods have been in existenceto create an expandable belt or band for belts and/or watches.

These methods have required complex tooling which results in anexpensive product.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new andinexpensive expandable metal belt or band.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an expandable metalbelt or band which is simple to manufacture and assemble and isadjustable to any size.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an expandablemetal belt or band which requires no tooling and is composed of standardreplacable parts.

These and other objects will be obvious from the following descriptionand drawings in which:

FIG. I is an exploded view of one link of the present invention FIG. IIis a side elevation view partially broken away of two adjacent links ofthe present invention FIG. III is a side elevation view of two links ofthe present invention in an expanded position FIG. IV is a sideelevation view partially broken away of another embodiment of thepresent invention FIG. V is the embodiment of FIG. IV in an expandedposition FIG. VI is a side elevation view, partially broken away ofanother embodiment of the present invention FIG. VII is the embodimentof FIG. VI in an expanded position Referring now to FIG. I, there isshown one link of a belt comprising two pieces of tubing 10, 12 whichare threaded internally at both ends, only one end is shown 14, 16. Aspring 18, fits inside of tubing 10, 12.

An eyelet 22, 24 fits through the end of spring 18, 20 and fixedlyattaches to a chain such as a snake chain 26 whose ends pass throughsprings 18, 20 and attach to eyelets 22, 24.

Snake chain 26 passes through a hole in collars 28, 30. Collars 28, 30are threaded externally to threadably attach to threaded ends 14, 16 oftubes 10, 12. Other methods of attaching the collars to the tubing maybe utilized such as welding, however, threading is preferred due to easeof construction and repair.

The collars 28, 30 and eyelets 22, 24 hold springs 18, 20 inside oftubes 10, 12. When a pulling force is exerted on snake chain 26, as whenthe link is expanded, collars 28, 30 prevent the springs 18, 20 fromcoming out of tubes 10, 12 and eyelets 22, 24 attached to snake chain 26press against springs 18, 20 compressing them.

A double tube connector 32 connects two adjacent links by snake chain 26passing through one tube of the double tube connector 32.

FIG. II shows two complete adjacent links fitted together with thetubing of the right link 34, 36 in which the springs 38, 40 arecontained by collars 42, 44 which are threadably connected to tubing 34,36. Eyelets 46, 48 are fixedly attached to the ends of snake chain 50.

Snake chain 50 passes thru one side of double tube connector 52.

The left link also comprises tubing 54, 56 containing springs 58, 60held by collars 62, 64. Eyelets 66, 68 are fixedly attached to snakechain 70 which passes through the other side of double tube connector52.

It can be seen that in operation pulling or expansion of the links shownwill cause the tubing 34, 36 and 54, 56 to be pulled in oppositedirections pulling snake chains 50, out of tubes 34, 36, 54, 56,compressing springs 38, 40 and 58, 60 thus providing an expandable beltas each sucessive link is expanded.

There is shown adjacent double tubing connectors 72, 74 which connectsthe next link in the belt.

FIG. III shows two adjacent links in an expanded state with tubing 76,78, 80, 82 having collars 84. 86, 88. 90, 92, 94, 96 and 98 threadablyattached in each end of the tubing. Snake chains 100, 102, I04 & 106pass through tubing 76, 78, & 82 and are held inside by eyelets as shownin FIG. II. Double tube connectors 108, 110 & 112 connect fourconsecutive links of the belt together. Pulling the ends of the links asshown would cause expansion of the belt by pulling snake chains 100,102, 104 & 106 out of tubing 76, 78, 80 & 82 compressing the springsinside. Upon realease the springs would bring the belt back to itsunexpanded state.

Referring now to FIG. 4 and 5 there is shown another embodiment of theinvention using the spring principle but with a different method ofassembly and connection.

The links consist of a U-shaped tubing 114, 116 with connectors 118, 120connecting adjacent U-shaped tubes together. Springs 122, 124 are heldin U-shaped tube 114 by collars 126, 128 threadably attached to the endsof U-shaped tube 114. Eyelets 130, 132 are fixedly attached to the endsof snake chain 134 which passes through the collars 126, 128 and doubletube connector 136. Similarly snake chain 138 passes through the otherside of double tube connector 136 and is held in the next adjacent link.

FIG. V shows the links in an expanded state where expansion of the linkspulls the snake chains 134, 138 out of tubes 114, 116 causing expansionof the belt.

FIG. VI and FIG. VII show another embodiment using the same principle inwhich adjacent links comprise U-shaped tubes 140, 142, 144 & 146. Thetubes are connected on one end by clip connectors 148, 150, I52. Thetubes are connected and expansion provided by springs 154, 156 held intubes 140 & 142 and similarly 144 & 146 (not shown). Collars 158, arethreadably attached to U-shaped tubes 140 & 142. Eyelets 162, 164 arefixedly attached to the ends of snake chain 166.

FIG. VII shows expansion of the links where the U- shaped tubes arepulled apart exposing snake chains 166 and 168 compressing the springsin the U-shaped tubes.

The tubing may be in any desirable shape and may be made of any desiredmaterial such as aluminum. The belt may be sized by adding or deletinglinks and if made on a smaller scale can be used as a bracelet orwatch-band.

Should any portion of the belt or band break, such as a chain or eyelet,they can be easily replaced by using no more than a standard hand-pliersto remove the collars and replace the broken part.

The belts or bands may be made of aluminum that has been treated to giveit an attractive color or other metals that are pleasing in looks oreven plastic or other materials adaptable for this use.

Having thus described the invention it is desired that the invention belimited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of tubing, a collar adaptedto attach to said tubing. a chain passing through a hole in the collar,a spring in said tubing held by an eyelet attached to the end of thechain, a connector adapted to receive said chain. and said tubing isthreaded internally and said collar is threaded externally.

2. The belt of claim 1 in which the tubing is U- shaped.

3. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of pieces of tubingthreaded internally at the ends, collars threaded externally to attachto said tubing, springs adapted to fit inside said tubing, chainsadapted to fit through said tubing and collars, and eyelets affixed tothe ends of the chains.

4. The belt of claims 3 in which double tube connectors attach adjacentchains together.

5. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of links each linkcomprising two pieces of tubing threaded internally at each end, collarsthreaded externally to attach to said tubing. springs adapted to fitinto each end of the tubing, chains adapted to fit through said collarsand tubing, eyelets attached to the ends of said chains adapted toattach the ends of the chain to the ends of the springs.

6. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of links each linkcomprising a U-shaped tube threaded internally at the ends, collarsthreaded externally to attach to said tube. springs adapted to fit inthe ends of said tube, a chain adapted to fit into each end of the tube,eyelets attached to the ends of the chain adapted to attach the ends ofthe chain to the ends of the springs.

7. The belt of claim 6 wherein adjacent links are connected by doubletube connectors.

8. The belt of claim 6 wherein adjacent links are connected by clips.

9. The belt of claim 6 wherein the chain is a snake chain.

1. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of tubing, a collar adaptedto attach to said tubing, a chain passing through a hole in the collar,a spring in said tubing held by an eyelet attached to the end of thechain, a connector adapted to receive said chain, and said tubing isthreaded internally and said collar is threaded externally.
 1. Anexpandable belt comprising a plurality of tubing, a collar adapted toattach to said tubing, a chain passing through a hole in the collar, aspring in said tubing held by an eyelet attached to the end of thechain, a connector adapted to receive said chain, and said tubing isthreaded internally and said collar is threaded externally.
 2. The beltof claim 1 in which the tubing is U-shaped.
 3. An expandable beltcomprising a plurality of pieces of tubing threaded internally at theends, collars threaded externally to attach to said tubing, springsadapted to fit inside said tubing, chains adapted to fit through saidtubing and collars, and eyelets affixed to the ends of the chains. 4.The belt of claims 3 in which double tube connectors attacH adjacentchains together.
 5. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of linkseach link comprising two pieces of tubing threaded internally at eachend, collars threaded externally to attach to said tubing, springsadapted to fit into each end of the tubing, chains adapted to fitthrough said collars and tubing, eyelets attached to the ends of saidchains adapted to attach the ends of the chain to the ends of thesprings.
 6. An expandable belt comprising a plurality of links each linkcomprising a U-shaped tube threaded internally at the ends, collarsthreaded externally to attach to said tube, springs adapted to fit inthe ends of said tube, a chain adapted to fit into each end of the tube,eyelets attached to the ends of the chain adapted to attach the ends ofthe chain to the ends of the springs.
 7. The belt of claim 6 whereinadjacent links are connected by double tube connectors.
 8. The belt ofclaim 6 wherein adjacent links are connected by clips.